*CFP* CALL FOR PARTICIPATION, DIGITAL INCLUSION, POLICY AND RESEARCH CONFERENCE

Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC)

Tuesday, September 14 2021

University of Liverpool and Nuffield Foundation

 

In this third edition of the Digital Inclusion, Policy and Research Conference (DIPRC) 2021, we invite scholars and practitioners to talk about their latest work in what many consider as a crucial point for digital inclusion, digital divides and data literacy. Who got left behind and struggled the most during the pandemic? What new digital practices emerged from the pandemic to help people manage their well-being and survival? Did technology interventions such as contact tracing apps actually help manage the pandemic? How did different communities organise to assist each other via digital means? How did different governments and local municipalities respond to digital literacy challenges? How is mainstream media implicated in how we understand what is happening?

The conference aims to focus on the recent global developments influenced by the pandemic in research, policy, and practice. Over this short time digital inequalities, digital inclusion and digital literacies have changed in response to global developments. However, key themes have remained important such as: material and financial access; skills and digital literacy; use by citizens and communities; the impact of socio-economic factors; motivation and attitudes; and more recently socio-economic and socio-cultural variations in patterns of usage. Digital inequities therefore have become an important part of broader persistent issues of social equity and justice.

For the open sessions, we seek presentations and papers that cover empirical research as well as policy and practice interventions, on topics such as:

• Data analysis of levels of digital inclusion/exclusion and engagement. 
• Case studies of initiatives and programmes. 
• Case studies of community impact. 
• Studies of the impacts of digital exclusion and inequalities. 
• Policy interventions to address digital inequalities.

 

Given that 2020 and 2021 have been dominated by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has itself revealed huge digital inequalities, we also invite papers on:

• Disinformation/misinformation and digital literacy during the pandemic. 
• Studies on the link between misinformation and data literacies. 
• Government, community and voluntary sector responses to digital literacy needs. 
• Digital platform use and 'big tech' responses to the pandemic. 
• Community responses to digital needs due to the pandemic.

 

Please submit your abstract here. 

The conference will be free to attend this year and held online - events will be scheduled to facilitate as far as possible attendance from all time zones.

 

Important dates:

Date for submitting abstracts - 31st May 2021

Date for announcing acceptances - End of July 2021

Date for speakers to confirm participation - Mid August 2021 at latest.